March 2006
Auto Express had releases a few comments about their Driver Power 2006 survey (lots in the magazine I'm sure)
www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/65609/driver_power_2006...l
Just a few things that most of us already know (and some of us act on when selecting a car):
11 of the 12 most reliable cars are Japanese
nine of the 11 models suffering from the most mechanical breakdowns are from French and Italian marques, most unreliable is the Peugeot 307.
Lexus is best manufacturer but Honda has 3 out of the 4 most reliable models.
Skoda has done well and Kia has a model in the top 10. Read more
Hi,
I've just got my van back from a garage where it had new pads & discs fitted. They informed me that they had to use a sledge hammer to remove the discs!!
As soon as I went to collect it, the pre glow light would not extinguish...
The van seems to be running fine, no loss of power etc.
Could this be linked to whacking the discs with a sledge hammer or just coincidence??
Also, any hints/ tips.. I rang merc & they said it would either be the cable, relay or the plugs. They then scared the living daylights out of me by saying that they have to warn me that the plugs can snap off & it would cost about £1000 if one did!!!
Normally, the light ignites immediately, but now there is about a 1 second delay. It also used to only take about 3 secs to go off, which makes me think the plugs are fine..
Any help would be greatly appreciated
Skeet Read more
We have a 2000 Clio MTV 1.2 Petrol which failed the MOT emissions test 2 years ago (this is in N.Ireland). Mechanic says the carburettor needs replaced (do cars still have carburettors?)
In the interim, for the retest and test last year we put a bottle of CatClean into the petrol tank and took it for a hard, high-rev drive immediately before the test. It passed the emissions on both occasions, although it took 3-4 minutes at high revs for the readings to come into line.
Any thoughts on what could be wrong? Carburettor (if there is one), Lambda, Cat?
Cheers,
Greg. Read more
Do your annual service the day before the test, oil and filter change.
It will lower the reading considerably as any slight oil burning will be cleaner.
I've been to an auction to get a feel for things and have decided I want to have a go at bidding for a car from a fleet sale.
I noticed that a lot of the cars are around the 3 year old mark and as such don't have MOT's. Am I OK to phone my insurance company and insure the car before I leave the auction and book an MOT with an MOT centre before I leave the auction and drive the car directly there.
I have read that a lot of the cars don't come with a V5. So how do I stand with driving the car on the road when I leave the auction, as I won't be able to tax it without the V5 will I? Does this void my insurance?
Also, are these cars HPI checked or similar? What guarantee do I have of buying a car that hasn't got outstanding finance or been an insurance write off? Read more
"so why should car dealers actually help out private buyers?"
If you read his post, it's not a case of "not helping". He boasts of deliberately impeding them by bidding up on a vehicle he's not interested in buying. Indefensible. I'm not asking him to help them, just to live and let live.
I do get bypassed (I sell for a living). It's fair game. I don't deliberately spike someone else for the fun of it (and neither do my competitors do it to me).
I hold to my original point. With the dealers showing attitudes like that no wonder people hate motor traders.
V
This is a transcript of the Budget relating to cars.
While half of carbon emissions come from buildings, a quarter come from vehicles.
So today I want to do more to encourage cleaner fuels and cars. I propose to radically reform vehicle excise duty.
I am introducing, to take effect tomorrow, a zero rate for a small number of cars with the very lowest carbon emissions which will pay no duty at all; and instead of £75 for cars with low emissions, significantly lower rates of £40.
Duty rates from today will be zero, £40, and then £100, 125, 150, 190 up to a new band of £210 for the small number of new cars that are the most polluting, 1pc of all cars - this will help pay for 5 million more fuel efficient cars to have their duty cut.
As a result of our decisions, and at an eventual cost of £10 million a year to the exchequer, the duty paid on 50pc of cars will be frozen or reduced from tomorrow.
Instead of just 300,000 motorists paying £100a year or less, 3 million will now pay £100 or less.
To further reduce carbon emissions, 5pc of fuel will be made from bio-fuels by 2010. And I can announce new support and incentives that will, with the 20p duty differential, by 2008, be worth up to a 35p per litre.
It is our policy that each year fuel duties should rise at least in line with inflation, as we seek to meet our targets for reducing emissions and to fund our public services. But for the fourth successive Budget, because of high and volatile prices in the oil market, i propose to defer the usual inflation increase until September 1st.
I will maintain the duty differential for rebated oils.
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Roger
I read frequently, but only post when I have something useful to say.
Read more
Global Dimming and vapour trails. What about that glorious hot summer of 1940. Southern Britain baked in sunshine, but more than a handful of aeroplanes pumping out pollution in a small amount of sky. How does that tally?
Hi all,
I noticed last week that a carpet dealer who has parking next to my office has a copy of the tax disc from his high-top transit on his BMW 540 !!!!!!!
What is the likelihood of him getting picked up routinely for this offence, or should I give somebody a pointer ???
Not really my thing but if 99% of us have to pay then why shouldn't he ??? Read more
there is a direct link on the dvla website for notifying this kind of fraud
I posted it further up this thread.
Does anyone know if the new computerised MOT that has been introduced (along with the price increase) means that owners will get a reminder when their MOT is near expiry?
If not, it seems daft that with all the details of the car and owner now logged this should not be done. I forgot to renew my MOT for about 10 days due to simple human error, but in the eyes of plod I'm a criminal.
I know this would incur a cost, but the billions of £s in duty could go someway towards that. Read more
Not that I am aware. However, there is a peel off sticky label on the new certificates that you can stick on the inside of your windscreen as a reminder of the expiry date.
Hi all,
Does anyone know what documents you'd need to hire a car a drive stateside? Is the UK driving licence/passport enough.
I've a friend who's heading there for the first time so would appreciate any advice/tips for driving over there.
tia
Lee -- Without bills, magazines and junk mail, there is no mail Read more
Drive like an utter mimsing moron and no one will look at you twice. Just remember: stay off the loud pedal.
Hi
After its latest 90K service, my Toyota garage has warned me that both outer CV joints on my 02 Corolla Estate 1.6 will need replacing: there's a clicking noise on full lock.
1/ Is this normal after 90K, or does it reflect poor design, maintenance, driving habits??
2/ The garage say I don't need to do the replacement until the rattling starts to occur on less than full lock. Does this sound right?
3/ The big question! The garage estimate is 600 GBP for parts alone (plus about 100 for labour). This sounds extraordinary to me, but I've never had to replace CV joints before. What do others think?
Any comments or ideas before I polish up the credit card would be most welcome.
thanks
tony Read more
Toyota parts are known to be expensive, though to be on the safe side phone around a few dealers or try some good quality independent outlets.
As for the joints failing, the diagnosis seems correct as the clicking sound is usually a sign of failing joints, these fail due to the rubber gaiters splitting up releasing grease and thus I suppose they become dry and fail. At least thats what I think. I remember mark 2 Vauxhall Cavaliers CV joints/ rubber gaiters used to fail on a regular basis.
I think these joints are manufactured by a company called GKN. "GKN Driveline is the world's No. 1 supplier of constant velocity jointed sideshafts (CVJs) and the worlds No.1 supplier of Torque Management devices. This business has achieved substantial growth in recent years and will continue to take advantage of growth in emerging markets and higher CVJ content on four-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles." ...from thier web site.
I have a 2001 leon tdi (90). Recently i have been experiencing a loss of power when accelerating and the revs are around 3,500. Anyone got any ideas what this could be and how much it will cost to repair? Read more
Most likely the MAF sensor - a well known weak point on VAG engines at anything from 60k miles upwards. Try unplugging it and seeing if the car goes better. ISTR that it's the same item used by Mercedes and is much cheaper from them!
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RichardW
Is it illogical? It must be Citroen....
Browse
I had a Passat for 3 years, only went wrong once and VW Assist came out and fixed it within the hour. But, every time it went in to the dealer for servicing they either tried to overcharge me for work that didn't need doing or they broke something - engine cover, windscreen, bent bonnet. They loved confrontation and they got it with me. I would never buy another new VW.
I now run a Skoda Fabia vRS bought 6 months ago. I have found Skoda dealers, sales and service to be helpful, professional, courteous and competent - all lacking qualities in VW dealers. Our local Skoda dealer services my vRS and my colleagues Galaxy and Passat TDi's - £55 an hour and they're very good at it.